No Idea

 Looking toward 2026, I know one thing for sure. I do not want another year to drift by without intention. I am tired of feeling lost and disconnected from my own life. This is not about dramatic reinvention or chasing some ideal version of myself. It is about choosing steadier ground and building something livable, one small decision at a time. Age has been echoing loudly in my head lately. Sixty five feels heavy, not because it is old, but because it comes with awareness. There is time left, real time, and what I do with it matters. That realization is uncomfortable, but it is also clarifying. I do not want to spend the coming years frozen in place by fear, exhaustion, or habit. If I am going to move forward, I need to do it deliberately. Health is an unavoidable part of that picture. Not in a perfectionist or punishing way, but in a practical one. I want to walk regularly, in all kinds of weather. I want to use my weights to build strength and practice yoga or gentle stretching ...

I was going through my blog recently and realized something important: December 2024 came and went without any kind of year in review. At the time, I did not think much of it, but looking back now I can see how much that missing pause mattered. I do not function well without some kind of plan or reflection, and this past year really shows that. Skipping that moment of looking back may be one reason I have felt so lost moving through 2025. When I reread my posts from early 2025, I noticed something else too. Things are better in some ways, yet emotionally I am still close to where I was in January. Winter has always pulled me inward, and December and January seem to amplify everything. I know this is common and that many people struggle more in the colder, darker months, but it always feels heavier when it is happening to you personally. Awareness does not stop the feeling, but it does help me name it. This past year carried a lot of emotional weight, especially around family milestones...

Turning 64 hits differently. It isn’t old and it isn’t young — it’s more like standing in a doorway with one hand on the past and one hand feeling around for the light switch of whatever comes next. And honestly the year between 64 and 65 comes with way more practical nonsense than anyone tells you about. It’s not just emotions. It’s paperwork and timelines and figuring out how to land on your feet when the government decides you’re now “officially” a senior. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned this year is this: as soon as you turn 64, start your applications . If you are on Ontario Works or ODSP like I was, they cut off your benefits the moment you hit 65. You’ll get one final month after your birthday and then that’s it — no money coming in unless all your applications are already in process. And trust me, government drones move slower than winter molasses, so the sooner the better. That means filling out forms for Old Age Security (OAS) , Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Gua...

 The last couple of weeks have been a blur of creativity and caffeine as I bounce between Woulf’s Quest and the poetry anthology that keeps stealing my attention. On the Quest side we’ve been deep in world-building again tightening the canon polishing appendices and slowly shaping Act III so it breathes the way Air should. I swear every time I think we’re done another little detail taps my shoulder and says fix me next. And then there’s the poetry book which has taken on a life of its own. Some days it feels like excavation brushing dust off old feelings until a clear line appears. Other days it’s more like wrestling fog but in a good way. A handful of poems finally clicked into place including Heavy in the Soul and I’m starting to see how the whole collection might hold together. Heavy in the Soul I keep hearing that time waits for no one and I guess that includes me because nothing slows down not even when I’m falling behind If I want my life to mean something I have to p...

 Coming to ground touching down looking around I am here where I should be. Touching down looking around I am found I flourish where I should be Looking around I am found in my place I am home where I should be Coming to ground I look around I have found my reason to be where I am. Well that was interesting those words found their way to my hands without spending much time in my head. I am glad and for the first time I feel like I have finally reached my reason for being on this planet, in this town, in this building. So many roads lead me back here where I first found happiness. Short though the story may be I met my ex-husband on the front steps of this church and for 5 years I was happy. I still do not know for sure when that changed but I think it was on the trip we took out to BC to visit a friend of ours and ended up staying for a couple of years. Everything changed after that between him and I and I do not know why. Not the topic I was planning but it is preying on my mind s...

 I am lactose intolerant to the point where lactose products seem to go right through me. I am also a fan of experimenting with recipes just because. A few days ago for instance I mixed up some my mr. noodles with vegetable soup and chicken broth and mushroom soup. I didn't add any milk and it turned out lovely just a little spicy and very filling. There are others I've tried as well but I think today was really good and it was simple. To start off I cooked a half pound of ground beef in the oven until it was nearly cooked through. About 5 minutes or so before I pulled it out of the oven I covered the upper side with black pepper. I cut that in half and added it to a standard stroganoff hamburger helper mix.  Instead of adding regular milk I added almond milk and cooked it according to the directions. The almond milk gave the sauce a sweetish taste and the pepper added some heat. I was so good. I just felt the need to share what I mean when I say I am a creative cook. So far I...

In our fast-paced world, effective communication is key. Central to this is the often-overlooked art of listening. Listening isn't just about hearing; it's about understanding, empathizing, and truly connecting with others. Here are 12 essential listening skills to help you enhance your communication and relationships: - **Active Engagement**: Show genuine interest in the speaker by using both verbal and non-verbal cues. Maintain eye contact, nod, and provide feedback to demonstrate your attention. - **Empathetic Understanding**: Try to see things from the speaker's perspective and acknowledge their emotions. Reflecting their feelings back to them shows empathy and understanding. - **Non-Verbal Awareness**: Pay attention to the speaker's body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. These cues can convey more than words alone. - **Respectful Silence**: Allow for pauses in conversation, as silence can be just as powerful as words. This gives the speaker time to g...

  Adult Autism Awareness Day April 18, 2024 Help spread awareness about Adult Autism this April 2nd by joining in on the conversation for Adult Autism Awareness Day! Introduction On April 18, join in to celebrate Adult Autism Awareness Day! This special day has been celebrated since 2006 and was created to raise awareness about adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is also a chance to recognize the contributions that these individuals make in society, as well as show support for their families. The goal of this day is to educate people about autism and provide resources and support for those living with it. So let's come together on April 18th to help spread understanding and acceptance of ASD! Adult Autism Awareness Day Timeline 1911 Initial Autism Identification Eugene Bleuler, a Swiss psychiatrist, first used the term "autism" to describe symptoms of schizophrenia. 1943 Autism Defined as Separate Condition Leo Kanner, an U.S. psychiatri...

 

The right to health is a universal right of all human beings, regardless of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or another status.  Below are three sheets which describe your rights to health care if you are female, disabled or other.

 

 If you have been hanging around for a while I'm glad you are still here, if you are a new reader welcome. If you have been following along you know that I like a creative challenge! I have begun to play around with Stable Diffusion and other AI art programs. I can't draw a straight line let alone create beautiful art work like a professional but the AI programs allow me to take an image that is in my head and create it for all to see. Pinterest  this will take you to my main Pinterest page for this ID cmarois60. I am debating if I should switch back to the old site as more people go there but it seems like a lot of work to copy everything over to the other ID cherylmarois. I have been thinking about reorganizing my online life so that it takes less of my time but since nearly everything I do is connected to the computer I don't think I can do much. Today I have a few things I want to get done. Among them are giving you my personal lists and printing out the bits and bobs ...

I have been doing some experimentation with various AI art generators, this one is from Bing and I only found it today. I decided to have a bit of fun. This is a representation of the world in my story though it is by no means correct it does give the feeling of unity I wanted. Now I just got to make it clearer  

 a wikipedia treasure hunt. I started with Thyroid Disease in Women Thyroid disease in women  is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid in women. This condition can have a profound effect during pregnancy and on the child. It also is called  Hashimoto's thyroiditis  (theye-royd-EYET-uhss). During pregnancy, the infant may be seriously affected and have a variety of birth defects. Many women with Hashimoto's disease develop an underactive thyroid. They may have mild or no symptoms at first, but symptoms tend to worsen over time. If a woman is pregnant and has symptoms of Hashimoto's disease, the clinician will do an exam and order one or more tests. [1] [2] [3]   Hashimoto's thyroiditis   Hashimoto's disease is about seven times more common in women than in men. It can occur in teens and young women, but more commonly appears in  middle age , particularly for men. People who develop Hashimoto's disease often have family members who have thyroid ...